July 29, 2014 Hollywood—Seed&Spark, the one stop shop where filmmakers can crowdfund, distribute and interact with their audiences is joining forces with Tugg, the platform that gives audiences power to bring movies to local theaters to deliver the keynote address at the upcoming HOLLYSHORTS FILM CONFERENCE Presented By Method Studios discussing Crowdfunding To Build Independence.

The HOLLYSHORTS FILM CONFERENCE takes place on Friday August 15 at 12noon at the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood. Emily Best, Founder and CEO of Seed&Spark and Alex Dobrenko from Tugg will headline the session. Seed&Spark and Tugg’s seminar will explore how Crowdfunding has become a fundamental piece of most financing plans for independent film. However, many filmmakers miss the opportunity to turn their film funding campaigns into audience-building opportunities that can last an entire career and provide the groundwork for theatrical distribution that they control. The session will provide an action plan for Crowdfunding and Distribution, an important element to creating a lasting, flourishing, direct relationships for audiences.

The 10th Annual HollyShorts Film Festival takes place August 14-23, 2014.

On Friday, get ready for A TERRIFYING CALLING CARD: HOW TO BEST USE YOUR HORROR SHORT FOR BUSINESS presented by Shout Factory’s Scream Factory and Fangoria conversation about making the most of your horror short in regards to the business of film. Speakers include: Gavin Hignight –Moderator - Writer, Marketing Manager at FEARnet, Filmmaker Nicholas Tana – (Hollyshorts Alumn), Drew Daywalt, horror features streaming network and Charles Brand, Full Moon Entertainment.

The HOLLYSHORTS FILM CONFERENCE will feature 2 sessions tackling Film Financing. One on Saturday, August 16 at 12noon and the other on at 12noon on Sunday August 17.

Sunday August 17 is also Washington Film Day at HollyShorts and at 4pm attendees can hear from a series of Washington based entertainment companies discussing: WASHINGTON FILM—COME SEE WHAT YOU’RE MISSING (30% Back in Tax Credits in 30 Days).

Also on Sunday at 2:30pm get ready for FILM DIRECTORS REVEAL-WHAT DOES IT REALLY TAKE TO GET YOUR MOVIES INTO THE FEST? With Alex Ben Block, Moderator – Senior Editor, The Hollywood Reporter, Sharon Badal - Tribecca Film Festival, Director, Shorts Programming, and Larry LaBoe - New Filmmakers LA.

On Tuesday August 19 is the ENTERTAINMENT LAW FOR SHORT FILMMAKERS-PLATFORMS, MODELS, CAN YOU DO THE DEALS CONTRACTS YOURSELF?

Wednesday August 20 is Digital Day at HollyShorts Presented by General Assembly with sessions that feature the PGA Digital, Digital LA and much more.

HOLLYSHORTS FILM CONFERENCE features 3 engaging sessions including an intimate cocktail reception on each day of the Festival Conference.

Emily Best founded Seed&Spark to make a contribution to the truly independent community in which she would like to make moving pictures. In 2011, she had the great fortune of producing her first feature with a remarkable group of women. The spirit, the community and the challenges of that project, Like the Water, inspired Seed&Spark. Before producing Like the Water, Emily produced theater, worked as a vision and values strategy consultant for Best Partners, ran restaurants, studied jazz singing at the Taller de Musics, tour guided and cooked in Barcelona, and before that, was a student of Cultural Anthropology and American Studies at Haverford College. Emily was named one of the 2013 Indiewire Influencers, dedicated to 40 people and companies who are asking the big questions about what the independent film industry is today (and why) and, more importantly, what it will become. Emily is touring film and tech festivals around the world, Sundance and SXSWV2V to Sheffield and Galway, to educate filmmakers and learn their best practices in connecting with their audiences to build a sustainable career.

About Alex Dobrenko/Tugg

Alex Dobrenko has been with Tugg since it’s inception in 2011. As Tugg’s second employee, Alex helped develop the Tugg Theatrical model and has been working with promoters, filmmakers and partnering organizations to create theatrical events in theaters across the country. In mid-2012, Alex began to work with Tugg’s top filmmakers on developing Tugg’s Non-Theatrical service in response to promoter inquiries from universities, churches and community centers interested in bringing the films to their non-theatrical venues. Since then, Alex has helped develop the strategy and execution for the Non-theatrical campaigns of films like Honor Flight, Blood Brother, Travis: A Soldier’s Story and more.

Tickets to the HollyShorts Film Conference keynote and all conference access passes are now available for purchase at www.hollyshorts.com.

About HollyShorts

HollyShorts Film Festival is an annual short film festival showcasing the best and brightest short films from around the globe. HollyShorts is devoted to the advancement of filmmakers through screenings, Q&A sessions and networking events. The HollyShorts Film festival showcases the top short films produced 30- minutes or less. For more information please visitwww.hollyshorts.com.